College Football Playoff rankings: 3-loss Alabama has inside track at playoff berth ahead of 2-loss Miami

Alabama’s playoff chances seemed to get a lot better on Tuesday.

The Crimson Tide jumped Miami in the penultimate set of rankings. Alabama (9-3) is at No. 11, a spot ahead of Miami (10-2) at No. 12. If the rankings didn’t change before Sunday, Alabama would get the final at-large spot in the 12-team playoff over the Hurricanes.

Ohio State fell to No. 6 after losing at home to Michigan in Week 14. Oregon remained at No. 1 followed by Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame and Georgia. The Bulldogs are the highest-ranked two-loss team.

First-round byes

1. Oregon

2. Texas

3. SMU

4. Boise State

The Broncos are five spots ahead of the Big 12’s highest-ranked team in Arizona State. If Boise State beats No. 20 UNLV on Friday night, it would probably stay ahead of the Big 12 champion Sun Devils or No. 17 Iowa State for the final first-round bye.

Boise State could even move up to No. 3 if Clemson beats SMU for the ACC title. The Tigers are ranked between the two Big 12 schools at No. 16.

First-round matchups

No. 12 Arizona State at No. 5 Penn State

No. 11 Alabama at No. 6 Notre Dame

No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Georgia

No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State

These matchups are likely to change before Sunday’s final rankings. Penn State plays Oregon for the Big Ten title while Georgia plays Texas for the Big Ten title. Either those two teams provisionally hosting first round games will get byes, or their seeds could be adjusted accordingly.

Both Notre Dame and Ohio State appear to be hosting first-round games no matter what happens on championship weekend. Both teams aren’t playing on Saturday.

Neither are Alabama and Miami. That’s why it looks like the Crimson Tide have an advantage over the Hurricanes for what could be the final spot in the playoff field.

That spot isn’t guaranteed by any means, however. If Clemson beats SMU in the ACC title game, will the committee drop the Mustangs below either or both teams? If SMU stays ahead of both Alabama and Miami in that scenario, it’s still in the playoff.

1. Oregon (12-0)

2. Texas (11-1)

3. Penn State (11-1)

4. Notre Dame (11-1)

5. Georgia (10-2)

6. Ohio State (10-2)

7. Tennessee (10-2)

8. SMU (11-1)

9. Indiana (11-1)

10. Boise State (11-1)

11. Alabama (9-3)

12. Miami (10-2)

13. Ole Miss (9-3)

14. South Carolina (9-3)

15. Arizona State (10-2)

16. Iowa State (10-2)

17. Clemson (9-3)

18. BYU (10-2)

19. Missouri (9-3)

20. UNLV (10-2)

21. Illinois (9-3)

22. Syracuse (9-3)

23. Colorado (9-3)

24. Army (10-1)

25. Memphis (10-2)